United Way of Western Connecticut encourages federal employees who may be struggling to buy groceries and pay their bills to attend its monthly Mobile Food Pantry, which will be held tomorrow, January 23, at Walnut Hill Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road in Bethel. The pantry operates between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm, and the doors open for clients at 4:30 pm.
The food pantry is less than 10 miles from the Federal Correctional Institution, located on Pembroke Road in Danbury, where approximately 250 employees are working without pay as a result of the government shutdown.
The Bethel Mobile Food Pantry is held every fourth Wednesday of the month. An additional Mobile Food Pantry is conducted on the first Wednesday of the month at Faith Church, 600 Danbury Road, #1, New Milford. United Way funds these pantries in the evening to make them more accessible to working families.
Free, fresh food is distributed, including vegetables, fruits, and dairy—often some of the most expensive food items on the grocery store shelves. This month, the federal workers who are impacted by the government shutdown are being welcomed. Additional food will be stocked on the Mobile Food Pantry truck to accommodate those workers. No identification is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring sturdy bags, as each client receives at least 20 pounds of food.
The Mobile Food Pantry is conducted in partnership with Connecticut Food Bank, which is also sponsoring a “Pop-Up” Pantry this Saturday, January 26, at Jericho Partnership, located at 44 Spring Street, Danbury. That pantry will be held from 11 am to 12 noon. Mostly frozen food will be distributed at that event